Disclosure: I am working with Ilve and Forté as a part of a long-term partnership on my kitchen renovation. As always, all opinions are honest and my own.
Now that the roof is done, it’s time to turn our renovating attention to the kitchen. In fact, my renovating attention has been on the kitchen, but it’s just been sketches, ideas, and standing in the space staring at it for long periods of time. It has been nice to use and live in the kitchen for a while before any firm plans are put in place, though. I’m learning where I work, what I use most, how the light moves, and what I’m missing from my previous kitchen. Since we intentionally looked at homes that needed a complete kitchen redo, I knew that I would be starting from a blank slate on everything, including the appliances. So, as I started to think about the space, the appliances were the first thing I would select and everything else is going to be in support of them. More specifically, the range and fridge, since those are the most prominent and most used. I have been researching European gas ranges for years and I had settled on an Ilve range before we even sold our MN house. That would be my next range and I’ll share more about that in another post. But, I was less sure about a fridge. As I started doing research, I found an appliance company I hadn’t heard of before – Forté.
I was actually introduced to Forté through Ilve since they are sister brands. They have a wide range of fridges including those that offer charming vintage style (see that mint green cutie below), a sleek professional look, or a built-in panel-ready fridge that blends into any style entirely. While the vintage-style fridge was very tempting, I really wanted one that would blend in with the cabinetry. That design fits the style I was imagining for this kitchen.
The kitchen in our new home is small and awkwardly shaped. It’s basically a U-shape that wraps around the basement stairs. On one side of the U are an eating area and a pantry. On the other side are the main part of the kitchen, a butler’s pantry of sorts, and a small mudroom/entry. It’s a lot packed into a relatively small, chopped-up space. So, every inch counts, and a counter-depth fridge was a must.
This is the eating-area side looking into the main part of the kitchen (to the right), the family room (through the doorway.) The pantry is behind where I was taking this picture.
And, to give you a better sense of the space, here is a picture of the kitchen I took during our home inspection. You can see the steps to the basement on the far right, the hall/butler’s pantry leading to the dining room to the left of the basement steps, and the mudroom/entry next to that.
The old-school full-sized fridge you see in the picture above is the one we’re currently using and it convinced me even more that I needed a true counter-depth fridge. It sticks out, it’s prominent, and it doesn’t have any of the features I really enjoy like an ice maker, a water dispenser, and a way to adjust the fridge and freezer temp separately. This bulky fridge has one temperature dial and that’s about the extent of the features. The unfortunate thing is if you have the dial cold enough to freeze things in the freezer, it also freezes things in the refrigerator. Several times, Jeff has heard me let out an exasperated shriek as I throw away an entire container of frozen, wilted greens or an entire head of cauliflower. There are worse things in the world, but it is frustrating and such a waste.
At this point, I just want a fridge that won’t waste my veggies, but, in the bigger picture of the kitchen design, I envisioned a panel-ready counter-depth fridge. As I was looking into counter-depth fridges, many of them aren’t actually true counter-depth. The doors stick out beyond the profile of the cabinets, and in a smaller kitchen like mine, those 2-3 inches can make a big difference, especially since I’m toying with moving the fridge to a different location.
So, let’s talk about the pluses and minuses of a panel-ready fridge that I thought through.
Let’s just get the minuses out of the way – 1.) They are more expensive than a traditional fridge. Not only is the initial purchase more expensive, but you have to add the panels and handles. 2.) When you have to replace the fridge (hopefully not for a very long time), you might not be able to find the exact model or a fridge the exact size to fit the space. As I was thinking about this potential future dilemma, I don’t see why you couldn’t replace it with a fridge that isn’t panel-ready as long as it reasonably fits the space. I don’t think selecting a panel-ready fridge would be as limiting as you might think when it comes to future renovations or appliance purchases. Anyway, these are a couple of the cons that were running through my brain.
The pluses? Well, these were easy for me, which is why we ended up with one. 1.) The fridge is integrated into the cabinets, making it blend right in. This is especially nice for small kitchens or if you want a specific aesthetic. I want our kitchen to have an antique/European vibe, so the built-in fridge is well-suited to that look. 2.) The Forté panel-ready fridges are truly counter-depth, which is important when space is at a premium.
I liked the Forté panel-ready fridge better than others I researched for a couple of reasons. First of all, it offers so many amazing features and it will definitely be the best fridge we’ve ever owned. It has an ice maker, an in-fridge filtered water dispenser, soft-closing drawers, spill-proof glass shelves, a digital display, three temperature zones, a crisper drawer, and so much more. The second reason is it is priced better than comparable panel-ready fridges with the same features. Panel-ready fridges can get super expensive. It’ll still be one of the biggest single splurges of the kitchen renovation, but I would rather cut back in other areas and have killer appliances. We can DIY a range hood, do a lot of the painting and finish work ourselves, and we’re cutting back on the number of upper cabinets, so it’ll all be a give and take; a splurge and save approach.
The Forté fridges come in a variety of styles, as I said, but also a wide range of sizes to fit the size of your kitchen and/or family./cool storage needs I keep a pretty stocked fridge (I like my fruit cold and usually refrigerate our bread) plus we need it for medical purposes (Calvin’s insulin), so we went with a Forté 36″ wide panel-ready fridge. We’ll put the old-school fridge in the basement to use for water bottles and some extra beverages, but I can’t imagine ever needing more than what this fridge offers.
Our fridge is still in a box in the garage, but we’re going to unpack it this week so we can at least use it in the garage for my veggies until the renovation is underway. There is still a lot of planning that needs to happen before the project date is set, but we’re inching closer. I’ll share my thoughts and plans about the kitchen soon.
You can currently find Forté appliances through Lowe’s, Appliances Connection, AJ Madison, and more.
For kitchen inspiration, recipes, and more details about Forté Appliances, you can follow their Instagram account HERE.
An excellent and detailed review. I’ll certainly keep this in mind when it’s time replace appliances in my kitchen.
There is something extremely appealing and retro about that light fixture over your table. I hope you keep it for something else, even if you don’t use it in your kitchen. I think I also spied another similar overhead light fixture. Heidi Caillier uses a ’70’s light fixture in one of her designs and where I would have overlooked it in the past, I had to reconsider!
I’m loving those retro lights too.
Oh yes, I noticed that too, and LOVE it. It seems very Miss Mustard Seed.
Yes, I like them, too! They are charming. The only downside is that the hanging fixture has an opaque shade, so light only goes downward. I think we’ll probably keep it over the table and just add some recessed lights to that room.
Are those vintage looking lights still available to purchase?
We had a similar fridge in Ireland. it had two doors…the bottom being the freezer. Our carpenter easily made an integrated cover for them to match the cabinetry he made. It kept our food well. Mind we shopped every couple days as is habit there…no huge weekly shops. Having a separate fridge in basement or garage for drinks will definitely be helpful.
Our small cottage just had the smaller fridge but without the covers. Went well with our white stove and washing machine!
Nice look …can hardly wait to see it completed
Wow! Our 18 y.o. built-in came with the house and is on its last legs. So, we have been hunting for a built-in fridge that fits the existing space and they are a YEAR’s wait. Just the words “in a box in the garage” made my jaw drop! That partnership came in very handy.
I’m often drawn to the aesthetics of European appliances but always have concerns about availability of knowledgeable repair service and readily available parts. I’m sure you have investigated for that potential scenario. What did you find?
In my experience, people who do appliance repair specialize in brands or types of brands. When we needed our LG washer repair, I was put in touch with a repair person who worked on LGs or similar brands. It’s just a matter of finding the right people.
Years ago I bought a Bosch washer/dryer set from Lowes. It had an issue and they sent out a guy that had NEVER worked on the brand. He over tightened the screws and from the time my3 month old pricey washer set was ‘ new to me’ everyday, until 16 years later, I have looked at a cracked machine front. Lowes didn’t care, Bosch didn’t care and the extra insurance policy people didn’t care. My current new appliances are common makers long sold in my area.
Oh man, I am so sorry to hear that! I will definitely keep that in mind.
I’ve been itching for a counter depth fridge, but then I read some reviews of those who switched from full size and instantly regretted the lost storage space. We have a large family and I do a once a week or once every 2 week shopping trip. Anxious to hear how this fridge works out for you in capacity.
Well, my counter-depth fridge in MN had more space than the full-sized one we’re using currently. It was taller and the space was designed better. The Forte fridge we’re getting is also taller, so the cubic feet is comparable.
Looking at the dimensions of your refrigerator, it is of course very tall at 83″+. So wondering how is the reach to the top shelf?? Seems like a shorter person would have trouble navigating without a step stool.
I would go for all the upper cabinets. Never can’t have too much storage space. I know trend is to have open shelving but who wants to do all that dusting?? Especially since you have pets. Cabinets with glass doors look timeless, too.
What fun to see what you come up with! 🙂
That is the total height of the unit, which includes some space for the insulation, etc. Of course, I can strategically place things so I can reach what I use most and Marshall and Jeff can reach the rest for me! 🙂 The top might be a good place to tuck bread and bagels or something like that.
As far as the upper cabinets, we will end up having about the same amount, but I’m reconfiguring things to open it up. Right now, the cabinets stop at cosmetic soffits. Those will be removed and the cabinets will go to the ceiling, gaining a lot of space. Other things like adjustable shelves will make the storage more useful. We’ll only have a few open shelves for our everyday dishes.
I may have missed a reference above to this idea, so, sorry in advance if I did. Looking at the wall behind the white fridge over to the door facing of that ?? mud room area, could that ‘box’ be taken out to use that extra space in the re-configuration of your new kitchen? Just and idea.
That actually is something on the table. The side entrance would come directly into the kitchen, but that wouldn’t be odd. The only problem is we lose a landing place for shoes, bags, etc. But we would gain space and light in the kitchen, which just might be worth it. It’s something I’m going to discuss with the contractor and kitchen designer.
I just had to replace my 18 yr. old side by side and ended up with the esentially the same fridge in an updated version. I can only fit a side by side unit in the space as there is no room for larger doors or drawers. (When I re-did the kithchen, creating more space would involve moving an electic outlet in the island. Let’s just say that gaining that extra 8 inches of space would start a chain of dominoes falling at a cost of maybe $10,000!) I had picked out a higher end model but it was not available. The locally- owned store was able to get the new fridge to me in five days.
The old one was slowly failing but I did not notice. What I did not realize until I found Ice cream “soup” was the old freezer had been running 20 degrees and the fridge side 8-10 degrees too warm. No wonder milk was spoiling too soon and other foods were not keeping well. There was no point in keeping the old one for drinks
Oh man, I get the domino statement! Things really can snowball when you look at making one change. It all has to be weighed out. Sometimes the investment is worth it and sometimes, it definitely isn’t.
We bought a home with a sub zero that is 35 years old – it’s starting to have trouble so I was on the hunt for something else . Just as you described , space was at a premium and even a counter depth stuck out too much . So it was either just make do with something that didn’t fit , reconfigure my kitchen , or buy another sub zero. I ordered that sub zero -it will take 11 months to get here ( gratefully the old one is still working ) . Maybe this will be the last refrigerator I ever buy. I’m looking forward to seeing how the Forte works out because it’s so pretty ( oh , and I live in a smallish Texas city and learned to only buy an appliance that can be serviced ) .
We had to replace our sub-zero paneled refrigerator. It was the smaller narrower version similar to the Forte. Since I refused to pay nearly double the price of the original, I bought a Bosch which had the closest dimensions to fit our built in space. Sadly the space space around the fridge has a 3 inch gap all the way around which makes it look odd. Since I have stained cherry cabinets that have aged and gotten darker over the years it would be hard to match a trim piece fit that gap. Wish I had known about Forte ten years ago.
I recall when I wanted a Lacanche French range for our kitchen. My husband saw its cost and was like, “for that, honey, I’ll take you to Paris.” Lol!
Yes, the Ilve is a range with a similar look/feel and features, but it is at a better price point! I hope he took you to Paris!
Looking at the picture of your current kitchen I think you did a great job making it cozy and very much “you” while you plan for your renovation. You’re doing a wonderful job making this house your home for you and your family! I enjoy following along
Not a fan of anything retro looking esp appliances ! Just give me an up to date Whirlpool ref. My appliance guy came out to replace the ice maker after 20+ yrs of use and he said they don’t make them like that anymore. And to reply to the person who had a hard time finding a good repair man for her Bosch washer/dryer. Buying these off name or high end brands is not wise esp for repair issues because most repair people have little experience on these brands. So hope your husband can repair your appliances. I just love the beautiful range that Joanna Gaines uses on her Magnolia Table show. The Sub Zero company were interviewed on TV and they are a very respected Made in the USA company. But I dislike how difficult their doors are to open along with these high end range doors. Make it easy for me not harder !
Joanna Gaines’ stove is gorgeous, but I read an article about that property renovation they did (the mill) where she films her cooking show and the stove was $75,000. It must be nice to have that kind of money, lol.
Can’t wait to see the progress on your new Kitchen. I don’t know if you have thought about who will service the appliances? Only because where I live you are limited to who will service what. I called all the local appliance service people and they can tell you who they service and which brands they service but don’t need to often. It was an eye opener!
That is a great consideration and I have asked the brand about that. I live very close to the DC metro area, so I think I’ll be good to go, but it’s definitely something to keep in mind!
Oh Marian forgot to tell you that here in NJ most appliance repair shops will not even talk to you if your major appliance is 5 yrs or older. Luckily I have a great guy that will look at anything but last yr he was on vacation so needed someone I had to wait til he returned back to NJ. So the moral of this story just go buy new every few years. Not worth the grief begging for repairs !
A follow up to your response to my comment about taking out the wall behind the current frig to include the mud room space. This is about space for bags and shoes…I had thought about it then realized I didn’t know where the mud room exit door is…and if you’d be able to move that door down the wall, in the direction of the kitchen sink. My idea to recover shoe/bags space would be this:
re-locate the new fridge space in the same footprint of the existing space only now against the back wall. Box it in and on the left side, facing the frig, you would have a ‘cove’ the depth of the fridge running lengthwise to the exit wall–which is where moving the exit door down comes in, if necessary to make it work. Then high shelves/cubbies, maybe a bench with hinged seat to lift for storage. Just an idea. I’ve always loved SMEG appliances, just totally out of my budget. But not my dreams…! Your beautiful choice is exquisite.
Have you thought about having fun with going in a completely different direction for your kitchen? I can see you having fun designing and furnishing an unfitted or freestanding kitchen with Old World French charm. You live in an area with Hoosiers and pie safes and other cupboards are available. Your ironstone would display well in that type of cozy kitchen.
Having gutted my kitchen and started over from scratch w/new everything I have one suggestion: be sure to build in a powerful exhaust system with replacement air for your gas range. You can definitely DIY. We installed a downdraft model that disappears into the island at the touch of a button. So no heavy overhead contraption. The blower is in the basement to reduce the fan noise. It is ducted to the outside of course. The replacement air runs through the furnace ducts. It’s very neat and very healthy.
Hmm…I just clicked thru to Lowe’s and searched for Forte appliances. No fridges.
We just finished a renovation on a 1957 ranch last year. I completely gutted the kitchen. Spent hours studying just what I wanted for appliances! I went with a paneled counter depth fridge- and I LOVE it! Mine is a subzero and I can’t believe how much better my food keeps! It is worth the money!
This would be my dream stove (ILVE UPDW1006DMPILP); however, reading the overview gave me pause and thought I would mention it. Several of the models have this note in the overview section, and it would be a total deal-breaker for me. Who wants to adjust the temp in the oven 40-50 degrees every time you use it? I wonder this is a normal issue with because I’ve seen the same type of note on other foreign brands. I hope this isn’t the one you chose!
“Note: Oven temperature range may vary up to 50 degrees, it is recommended that customers set it 40 to 50 degrees less than their desired settings.”